LOS ANGELES — When Bob Chesney spoke to the media for the first time as UCLA football coach, he made clear how he’d assemble his recruiting staff.
Chesney knew he’d have to find coaches with West Coast ties as he dipped his toes into Southern California for the first time in his coaching career. But the 48-year-old also said he’d focus on the folks who’d been by his side from stop to stop.
On Friday afternoon, when Chesney revealed most of his first full coaching staff at UCLA, he followed the philosophy he set forth for himself. From James Madison, special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Drew Canan, offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Smith, safeties coach Anthony DiMichele, defensive backs coach Eddie Whitley Jr., defensive ends coach Sam Daniels and head strength coach Chris Grautski join Chesney on the cross-country trip to Westwood of the 11 names UCLA announced.
Chesney selected a pair of holdover coaches from former-coach DeShaun Foster’s staff in 2025. Former safeties coach Gabe Lynn remains on staff and will switch to the title of nickels coach, while running back coach AJ Steward stays put.
Among new faces to Chesney, defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa, who coached at Michigan State in the same role last season, joins the staff – holding ties to the Pacific Islands’ recruiting networks. And so does linebackers coach Vic So’oto, who had been the co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Cal in 2025 after serving on staff under former Golden Bears coach Justin Wilcox since 2022.
Wide receivers coach Colin Lockett comes from New Mexico, where he’s made a swift rise after spending one season at UC Davis and with the Lobos before jumping to UCLA.
“In organizing our first-year staff, it was imperative that we find coaches who fit a mold unique to UCLA football that will allow for immediate success,” Chesney said in a release. “This group possesses a great blend of competency, diversity and passion, and a track record of winning. Our infusion of West Coast ties will be essential in elevating UCLA’s brand, not just in Southern California, but across all of college football.”
Canan has worked with Chesney since 2014 at Division II Assumption College, and has since followed the head coach to Holy Cross, James Madison and now, UCLA. Whitley Jr. had worked under current Indiana coach Curt Cignetti with the Dukes, being the longest-tenured James Madison coach through the rise from FCS to FBS, up until this offseason where he joined the Bruins.
A UCLA Athletics spokesperson told the Southern California News Group that Chesney plans on hiring additional assistants at a later date, rounding out his first coaching staff.
Transfer portal update
When the clock struck midnight on Friday, more than 1,000 college football players joined the transfer portal. Among them, were Thursday announcements of wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer, defensive end Anthony Jones, linebacker Isaiah Chisom and kicker Mateen Bhaghani.
On Friday, defensive lineman A.J. Fuimaono also announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal.
Gilmer, who finished his sophomore season with a team-high 535 receiving yards, would’ve likely remained the top target for quarterback Nico Iamaleava should he had decided to remain a Bruin.
Bhaghani’s decision leaves the Bruins with a glaring hole in special teams as the junior placekicker – who transferred from Cal – was one of the more consistent Bruins in 2025 and a member of the team’s leadership council.
Chisom and Jones were starters for the Bruins’ defense, with the former ranking second on the team in tackles with 84, and the latter, a member of UCLA’s historically poor pass rush. Both transferred into UCLA from Oregon State and Michigan State respectively, a year ago, and will now search for new homes.
In returning players news, safety Cole Martin and offensive lineman Eugene Brooks – both bright spots in Westwood during a poor season – announced their returns to UCLA under Chesney over the past few days.
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